There was a new pegasus knight in the Shepherds, and from the looks of things, she was even more a klutz than Sumia. Lon'qu watched with a look of disgust as thie new girl bumbled about. The Shepherds had won two wars, had brought an end to Grima himself, had restored a brighter, happier future, and they were accepting novices now? More than that, this girl looked like she could stand some lessons on walking without tripping. If Sumia hadn't already been married to the prince, Lon'qu thought this newbie might have made the perfect soul mate.

He knew it was she who was to be the new member of the Shepherds. Lon'qu had listened to Ricken talk about the purple-haired girl from Elibe. She had come from the past for something or another, he didn't remember what. Her name was Florence or Flower or something. Whatever it was, Lon'que was grossly disappointed. First Donny and Oliia, Walhart, even the mad king himself. Chrom was letting just anyone into this army.

"Hey, Lonny'qu!" came a voice to snap Lon'qu from his thoughts. The swordmaster jumped and turned to face the energetic girl who'd called to him. His judging eyes looked over her and her tiny clothing before looking away and nodding his acknowledgement. "Are you watching Florina?" she continued. "I hear she comes aaaaaall the way from Ilia. Do you have a crush on her? You're really watching-"

"No," Lon'qu interrupted quickly. The girl's rushed words were enough to annoy him but her suggestion plain made him mad. "I could never have anything to say with someone daft enough to trip over her own feet. Pegasus knights are supposed to be graceful." His cheeks were quickly reddening and he looked away to hide it. "Go and bother Nah. I am busy."

The girl pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "But Nah is reading," she whined. "She doesn't want to play with me. I want to play with you!" But Lon'qu was already starting away. "Hey!" she called after him. "Come back here! Manaketes are really fast, you know! Hey! No one runs from Nowi!"

Losing Nowi was quite the feat, and Lon'qu looked over his shoulder with a relived sigh. The girl was mad to think he would have any feelings for a pegasus knight. With the way he avoided women like the Plague, it was no surprise there were various rumors suggesting Lon'qu suffered from gynephobia. Of course there was no way he was going to approach the girl, and he would give no one a different idea.

That evening it was Lon'qu's turn to prepare supper for the Shepherds. He was sitting on a stool by a great bowl of potato stew. In his hands were a potato and a dagger he was using to peel its skin. He made the simple act into an art, the skillful way he carve it. The peel fell to the ground in one swirling piece. After dicing the peeled potato he threw it into the pot and reached for another one. It was then that he noticed Stahl, probably in search of something to fill his bottomless stomach.

When the cavalier noticed him, he grinned brightly. "Hey, Lon'qu! That smells divine. Your potato stew is one of my favorites."

Lon'qu nodded his acknowledgement at the man. "Perhaps this time we will be uninterrupted."

Stahl laughed a jolly laugh. "Yeah," he agreed, "those Risen really haven't been letting us eat in peace lately, huh?" He picked up a carrot from beside the pot. Just as he was about to bite into it, Lon'qu smacked the carrot out of his hand and it fell to the ground with a thud.

"Do not spoil your supper," Lon'qu growled.

Stahl hungrily looked to the carrot, defeated, but soon perked up again. He seemed to recall something and spoke again. "Hey, did you hear about the new girl from Ilia? I heard she was one of Lady Lyndis's best friends. Basillio has told us how you looked up to Lyndis. Why don't you go talk to the new girl, what's her name...?"

Lon'qu did not look up from the stew as he answered. "I have little to discuss with a woman."

"That's no way to think!" It looked like Stahl was about to clap Lon'qu's shoulder but decided against it. "I don't know where I'd be without Sully and Kjelle. They're my pride and joy! You can't shut someone out because of their gender. That's just silly." When Lon'qu did not respond, Stahl continued. "You can't let your life be controlled by fear forev-"

"I am not afraid," Lon'qu snapped. Face like thunder, he looked ready to kill armies.

Stahl paused, shocked and slightly intimidated at Lon'qu's expression. He hesitated before turning away to leave. "I'll catch you at supper, Lon'qu," Stahl said, and he left the swordmaster alone.

That evening at supper everyone was surrounding the new girl. She looked about ready to cry in the spotlight, and one might have even pitied her. It seemed everyone had questions for her; they couldn't help but overcrowd her. Lon'qu watched the spectacle, far away from everyone else. This much fanfare hadn't even been raised for Priam; why was a klutzy pegasus knight receiving so much attention? While disgustedly wondering this, someone nearby cleared their throat. "You."

It was Sully, Stahl's wife, and she had a hand on either hip. She looked pretty ticked off, even more so than usual. Lon'qu looked at her blankly for only a few seconds before she spoke. "You're a coward."

His brows furrowed. "I beg your pardon?"

"Do you know what a coward is, Lon'qu?"

Lon'qu remained silent but his hands balled to fists at his sides. His bowl of half-eaten stew was already abandoned on the ground.

Sully did not flinch at his ignorance. "A brave man has many fears. A coward lets those fears control him. You're a damn coward."

Lon'qu stood. His expression might have scared a wyvern, but Sully remained still, challenging. His fists tightened. "I am not a coward," he said, and his voice was dripping with malice.

Sully seemed surprised at that. "Oh yeah?" she asked him. "Prove it." In those two words her brown eyes had gone cold as ice. "Get your ass over there and talk to Florina."

Lon'qu looked to where Sully was pointing, directly at the pegasus knight he'd been thinking about all day. He glanced at Sully once more before shoving past her. He parted the crowd gathered around the terrified girl and made his way towards her, face already reddening. With more confidence than he knew he had, he pointed directly at her. "You," he said curtly. "Come with me. Now."